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FEBRUARY 2025 PROGRAMS
FOUR LESSER KNOWN AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITIES
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to present our Four Lesser Known American Jewish Communities series. Join us for our fourth program, a live virtual Jewish tour of Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00 pm EST. Please visit our event webpage for more details and to register.
U. S. Travel Series details
CSP
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to be a partner congregation of the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program. Please join us at an upcoming program!
The Great War – How World War I Shaped the Modern World
Session 1 – The Kaiser, Pervasive Fear, and National Interest – Sunday, February 2, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 2 – Verdun and the Somme – Sunday, February 9, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 3 – Lenin Comes to Power and the Yanks Are Coming – Sunday, February 16, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 4 – Germany Rolls the Dice – Sunday, February 23, 1:00 pm EST (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join us for an exclusive CSP four-part series with Professor Stephen M. Berk as we delve into the transformative impact of World War I – The Great War. This seminal event of the 20th century reshaped nations, ideologies, and societies, influencing everything from the rise of Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to the global movements for decolonization, women’s rights, and American isolationism. Each session will focus on a pivotal aspect of the war. A distinguished historian and CSP’s 10th Annual Scholar in Residence, Professor Berk brings unparalleled insight and expertise to this exploration of history that continues to shape our world.
Session 1 – The Kaiser, Pervasive Fear, and National Interest– We will explore events leading to the Battle of the Marne.
Session 2 – Verdun and the Somme – We will examine battles that epitomize the horror of war.
Session 3 – Lenin Comes to Power and the Yanks Are Coming – We will look at revealing revolutionary changes and American involvement.
Session 4 – Germany Rolls the Dice – We will examine the diplomacy of war and peace.
Stephen M. Berk, who served as CSP’s 10th Annual One Month Scholar in Residence in February 2011, is Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985). He is currently writing a book titled Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. The book provides an interesting discussion of an extremely important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement and attempts to dispel the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the Black-Jewish relationship. A recipient of the Citizens Laureate Award of the University of Albany Foundation, Professor Berk has been a consultant to the Wiesenthal Holocaust Center in Los Angeles, has written articles on Russian and Jewish history, antisemitism, and the Middle East and has lectured on throughout the United States and Canada including such distinguished colleges and universities as Princeton, Vanderbilt, The University of Texas at Austin and Williams College.
Register here
Archaeology of the Holy Land – A Journey Through Time and Excavation
Session 10 – Hasmonean Period: Jerusalem and Qumran – Monday, February 3, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 11 – Qumran Detailed Study – Wednesday, February 5, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 12 – The Early Roman (Herodian) Period: Historical Overview – Friday, February 7, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 13 – Herodian Period: Development of Jerusalem – Monday, February 10, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 14 – Herodian Period: Caesarea, Herodium – Wednesday, February 12, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 15 – Masada: Herod’s Palaces – Friday, January 14, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 16 – Masada: The Roman Siege – Monday, February 17, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 17 – Jewish Tombs and Burial Customs in Jerusalem – Wednesday, February 19, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 18 – Ossuaries and Burial Customs – Friday, February 21, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 19 – The Bar Kokhba Revolt – Monday, February 24, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 20 – Aelia Capitolina (Roman Jerusalem) – Wednesday, February 26, 1:00 pm EST (online)
Session 21 – The Byzantine and Early Islamic Periods – Friday, February 28, 1:00 pm EST (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join Prof. Jodi Magness, a renowned archaeologist and Kenan Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in a fascinating lecture series exploring the rich history of the Holy Land from 586 BCE to 640 CE. This course covers pivotal events from the rise of Jerusalem under King David to the Muslim conquest, including the Hasmonean revolt, the grandeur of Herod’s palaces, and the Roman siege of Masada. Participants will gain deep insights into archaeological methods, discover significant tombs and burial practices, and explore how ancient texts shape our understanding of the past. Prof. Magness brings her extensive expertise, as demonstrated in her award-winning books and numerous excavations in Israel, to provide a comprehensive view of how ancient Jews lived, worshiped, and interacted with surrounding empires. This program is fully funded by a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation Orange County.
Session 10 – Hasmonean Period: Jerusalem and Qumran – Covers the expansion and fortification of Jerusalem as the Hasmonean capital, and exploration of the archaeological site of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
Session 11 – Qumran Detailed Study – Take a detailed look at the settlement of Qumran, examining the life of the Essenes and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls both historically and theologically.
Session 12 – The Early Roman (Herodian) Period: Historical Overview – Survey the period from the Roman annexation of the Hasmonean kingdom to
the First Jewish Revolt, highlighting the reign of Herod the Great and the architectural, political, and cultural transformations under Roman rule.
Session 13 – Herodian Period: Development of Jerusalem – Delve into Herod’s ambitious architectural projects, including the massive reconstruction of the Second Temple and other significant infrastructural developments in Jerusalem.
Session 14 – Herodian Period: Caesarea, Herodium – Explore Herod’s other key constructions: Caesarea Maritima as a major port and administrative center, and Herodium as his lavish fortress and final resting place.
Session 15 – Masada: Herod’s Palaces – Examine the palatial fortifications and the complex water system on Masada, highlighting its strategic importance and Herod’s architectural ingenuity.
Session 16 – Masada: The Roman Siege – Discuss the dramatic siege of Masada by Roman forces post-First Jewish Revolt, including the archaeological evidence and the historical narrative of mass suicide described by Josephus.
Session 17 – Jewish Tombs and Burial Customs in Jerusalem – Focus on Jewish funerary practices in the Herodian period, including rock-cut
tombs, burial customs, and the theological implications of these practices.
Session 18 – Ossuaries and Burial Customs – Continue the discussion on burial customs with a focus on ossuaries, exploring their inscriptions and artistic decorations, and how these relate to the burial of historical figures like Jesus.
Session 19 – The Bar Kokhba Revolt – Survey the archaeological remains and the historical context of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, examining artifacts left by Jewish families who sought refuge in the Judean Desert caves.
Session 20 – Aelia Capitolina (Roman Jerusalem) – Examine the transformation of Jerusalem into the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina under Emperor Hadrian, focusing on urban design, architecture, and the suppression of Jewish religious and cultural identities.
Session 21 – The Byzantine and Early Islamic Periods – We wrap up our scholar-in-residence series with an exploration of Jerusalem under Byzantine and early Islamic rule, emphasizing the construction of significant Christian and Islamic religious structures, including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and discussing the broader geopolitical shifts during this period.
Register here
COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAMS
Israel Update
Thursday, February 20, 7:30 pm EDT
(online program presented by the Lappin Foundation)
Join the Lappin Foundation for an Israel update with Ido Aharoni Aronoff who will share his insights about the war with Hamas, regional dynamics and opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Aharoni Aronoff was Israel’s Consul General to New York, serving from 2010 through 2016, and he is currently serving as a Global Distinguished Professor of Business at Touro University.
Register here
COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAMS FOR TEENS
Teens Feed
Tuesday, February 12, 6:00 pm EST
(in person at Temple Emanu-El, 393 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead)
Jewish teens in grades 7-12 are invited to participate in the mitzvah of caring for the stranger by preparing meals for Lifebridge North Shore. Teens learn about the connection between Judaism and social justice while contributing to the well-being of our community. Dinner will be served to teen volunteers. Sponsored by the Lappin Foundation
Teens Feed flyer
Register here
YAD CHESSED
Yad Chessed helps Jewish individuals and families who struggle with financial hardship pay their bills and buy food. As a social services agency rooted in the Jewish values of kindness (chessed) and charity (tzedakah), they are committed to helping those in need navigate a path toward financial stability while preserving their privacy and dignity. They provide emergency financial assistance, grocery gift cards and compassionate advice for those trying to make ends meet. Hundreds of families and individuals throughout the state rely on Yad Chessed to provide for their essentials, and even at times, a Jewish burial for a loved one. Members of our community, as well as others in the Jewish community, who need assistance may contact Yad Chessed by phone at 781-487-2693 or by Email at intake@yadchessed.org for a confidential conversation. Questions can be directed to info@yadchessed.org.
Support Yad Chessed